Hey acne.org

I'm a 19 year old male and I've pretty much had the same story as many people... had some moderate-severe acne problems on my face and chest area throughout high school and tried many products. Finally, I was prescribed accutane (starting from when I was 17 till 18), and now I only get 1 or 2 pimples once in a while.

Now in my experience, there was never a LOT of chest acne, but they would take forever to go away (like 3 months), but I've had this one bump for over a year now, smack in the middle of my chest. It's slightly redder than my skin, but not too noticeable. I've tried putting retin-A for a month or 2 to no avail, and I also tried benzyl peroxide 5% for like 3 months but it's not going away.

Is this a scar?
What can I do about it? Maybe I should see my dermatologist again? (which tbh makes me feel somewhat uncomfortable, which is why I haven't already gone)

been taking doxycycline mono 100 mg once a day for almost 2 months. no side effects. no upset stomach. nothing.

face is totally under control. cheeks slowly healing. only little issue is the bacne - taking longer to heal up. any suggestions? i don't want to do the whole 'prolonged use of antibiotics' which can be bad but i definitely need to keep taking it for it.

so basically, any ideas on how to speed up healing process for bacne before the antibiotics turn on me!

For those that don't know Keratosis Pilaris is a very common genetic follicular condition that is manifested by the appearance of rough bumps on the skin, hence referred to as chicken skin. It most often appears on the back and outer sides of the upper arms (though the lower arms can also be affected), and can also occur on the thighs and tops of legs, flanks, buttocks, or any body part except glabrous skin (like the palms or soles of feet). Less commonly, lesions appear on the face, which may be mistaken for acne.
I was just wondering if anyone had suggestions or tips on how they got rid of theirs

I dunno if this is a form of chest acne but..during January or February I believe it was I noticed I had a bump on my chest. It was big just one big bump. I try to pop it and it left a mark..okay so the mark goes away and a couple of more come so I buy this avenno cleansing bar with salicylic acid in it. Big mistake!! My chest broke out with more red bumps everywhere and was very dry and itchy! I went to the emergency room and they recommended dove soap and cortisone. I've been washing and applying the cortisone and the itching and some of the bumps went away. But now I saw like ice pick scars on my chest? They said it was dermatitis but it's been over 4 months and some marks are still there. Has anyone ever experienced this? If so have the marks gone away. I'm getting really stressed out because its spread to my shoulders and I rarely break out on my shoulders. Now I have acne on my chest back face and shoulders! Makes me feel like giving up at times.

i am in my teen's. and i have about 20-30 pimples on my chest and 40-50 on my back and about 10 on my forehead. i just need some freakin help. it sucks not being able to take my shirt off in the locker room. and i have depression i think 75% of my depression is because of my acne. please help?
email me at aricblaze@yahoo.com

Hello,

First let me just warn anyone who is squeamish to not look at the picture.. This stuff is about as bad as it gets.

Its been like this for about 2.5 years. I'm only 15 and I'm worried that this will affect the rest of my life and make me a very lonely person. Dermatologists have prescribed tetracycline, doxycycline, and in May I was told that Accutane is my last option... I don't want to use Accutane.

Here is the picture..


Thank you

Edit: I also want to make it clear that it has nothing to do with hygiene.. I have been taking a shower every day even before the acne started appearing. Also, the antibiotics did not help

Ok, there is a bumb which looks like a pimple on the top beginning of my penis and i dont know what it is. Its not an STD because im a virgin. What is it?! Ive had a couple of these near my penis but neveer on it till now. Is it a clogged pore?

Hello everyone, I am a 16 year old male who has struggled with acne everywhere-face, neck, chest, shoulders, arms, back, and i have tried antibiotics, retin a, benzaclynicin(sp.?), murad, and every type of chemical, but i have not used accutane. I have always looked for a solution and i do not take a shirt off in a public place bc i am embarrassed. my mom told me to use an epson salt bath and i tried it once and i just didnt like it. but, tired of the acne, i decided to buy another box of epson salt. it is pretty similar to sea salt. it does not corrode a bath tub. one of its main purposes is to deep clean and refine the pores. it dries those pimples out. trust me, this stuff works. anything u have read about salt baths working is 100% correct. in my opinion, i wuld stop using every topical solution that just makes ur body worse and switch to epson salts, or sea salts if u wish, although i havent tried them to know if they work. i take an epson salt bath once a day for 30 minutes and i pour about 15 ounces in and i continue to pour enuff onto my chest to cover it and i spread it around and let it sit there for about 2 minutes and then i cleanse it. i do that to my chest about 5 times in the bath and i GENTLY exfoliate it with a soft sponge. this routine works if it is done on a consistent basis. if you try this for a week you will see amazing improvement. my chest has been cleared of almost all pimples, but i have a lot of skin color changes that are small that i do not know how to fix yet, i think they r pores that r barely infected and with more epson salt baths, they will cleansed of. i also use purpose soap in the shower with the sponge over my body and face and i cover up with eucerin dry skin therapy. at night i use neutrogena on the spot, but not in huge amounts, over my face chest and shoulders, and i cover that with the eucerin also. in the mornings i take showers instead of baths and i pour the epson salt over me and let it sit for about 2 minutes, similar to in the bath, and then i wash it off. i do that just once in the shower. i believe using as few chemicals as possible is the best solution. i also chew a vitamin every morning. country life chewables from GNC, and i drink a lot of water. i also take minocycline every night to help fight bacteria, although i dont believe it works anymore. i also use my body spray from murad on my back because it is the only thing that can reach back there, but i believe the SA in it is harsh on the skin and doesnt do too much. another thing i switched to is head and shoulders dandruff shampoo. it has a lot of zinc in it and it is very good for the skin, and it doesnt clog pores. i suggest not using any type of body soap or gel or body wash on any place with acne cuz i thing it helps clog pores. i always gently PAT dry, not rub, and i do whatever i can not to irritate my skin. it has worked beautifully and i believe in about 2 more weeks i could be completely clear. it will work, trust me on that, i just do not know how long it will take, but if u are consistent, and u r gentle, i believe it will work.

Morning-
Shower...
Purpose Soap(Gently rub in everywhere with soft sponge)
Epson Salt(pour over back, shoulders, and chest and let sit for two minutes and then cleanse with soft sponge Gently).
Eucerin Dry Skin Therapy(Face, Neck, Chest, and Shoulders).
Take Country Life Chewable Vitamin.

Night-
Bath...
Bathe in Epson Salt Bath for 30 minutes(Pour extra salt over severe places and let sit for two minutes and then cleanse Gently with soft sponge; do this about 5 or 6 times in the bath).
Shower...
Head and Shoulders Dandruff Shampoo(Zinc is good for the skin).
Purpose Soap(Gently rub in with soft sponge)
Neutrogena On the spot(Face, Chest, Shoulders, Neck; I use what i find a good enough amount)
Murad Clarifying Body Spray(Back; SA is harsh but its the only thing i can use to reach my back and i like to use one topical everywhere, but one only).
Eucerin Dry Skin Therapy(Face, Neck, Shoulders, Chest).
Minocycline 100 mg. tablet(Antibiotic from Dermatologist).

***DRINK A LOT OF WATER THROUGHOUT THE DAY TO HELP HYDRATE SKIN!!!

You will see results, I guarantee, just do not get lazy with the baths, take it and then follow up with the shower at night, and in the morning, only a shower is fine. The key is to be gentle to your skin and thats something i focus on a lot. I suggest everyone should try this and abandon all their other chemicals they throw on their body every night, and take a more "natural" approach. I want everyone to be as clear as those people who have perfect skin and just take for granted what they have. I hope to someday be there and with this new formula my hopes are being fulfilled. If you have any questions leave them here and I will answer them for sure. this will work. I assure you. If for some reason it does not, let me know and we can go over how you do everything. Thank you and good luck to all.

i am in my teen's. and i have about 20-30 pimples on my chest and 40-50 on my back and about 10 on my forehead. i just need some freakin help. it sucks not being able to take my shirt off in the locker room. and i have depression i think 75% of my depression is because of my acne. please help?
email me at aricblaze@yahoo.com

Ok tomorrow is my birthday and I don't have work tomorrow and I have time to get some new products!

Ok... My face is about 85% cleared from acne. All I have left to battle is my red marks that should be going away in a few weeks or a month and I'll be about 99% clear. You can never be perfect. & I'm fighting with back acne and a few small pimples (about 4). Well I'm currently using neutrogena Acne Oil free salicylic acid cleanser for morning showers and erythromycin gel at night... Well one morning I was thinking to myself.. is the S.A working on my face why not try it on my back. Well I did used it as a body wash and Everything was going ok until 2 nights ago.. My back just got bad! I was like... damn! lol Back acne isn't a problem like the face cause the back isn't shown as much as it is like the face. But I'm doing MMA and I think since Im training hard and stuff like that and mixed with other people sweat and bacteria causing my back to break out. So I've decided to quit soon because of my skin.

But I wanna see if Tree Tea Oil would work for my back... and if it does.. how do I apply it lol.

which moisturizer do you use on the body?

is it ok to wash, then apply BP, and then apply moisturizer as well, my chest is really cleared up but is red and dry. dan doesn't mention using moisturizer on the body regimen?

So I had back acne for about 5 years (im almost 19) and i still would have it if I hadn't stumbled upon the amazing product, AHA...

So my back has slowly been clearing over the past 2 months and now it's completely clear of zits. I mean its smooooth for the first time in 5 YEARS! I'm pretty excited about it, but I still have tons of red marks everywhere...shoulders, arms, back. I stopped BP completely on my back and the acne is still staying away. I actually havent used BP on my back in about a month and a half.

Has anyone tried aha for bacne and did it make your red marks go away? I think it is making them fade slowly, but it's taking so long i really can't tell a huge difference.


To anyone who hasn't tried AHA, it's the ONLY thing that has ever cleared me completely. You will break out at first for a couple weeks because the AHA is actually taking the dead skin off and surfacing the zits. BUT once the breakouts stop, you're in the clear : ) by the way, i broke out for about 2 1/2-3 weeks into my AHA regimen so stick with it. You'll be pleased. Oh and it burns like hell the first 2-3 times u use it. It's strange because I have used it day and night since then and it has hasn't burned since.

Cheers
Ryan

I have had body acne since I was 12 and I am now almost 24 so for half my life...I allowed this to define who I am for all this time..I avoided relationships, socializing, swimming...pretty much everything...Then, I met a girl that I liked a lot but everytime things looked like they would get serious I would run...after 2 and a half years of running from her I decided to stop...last night, I sent her a message on facebook explaining my condition and that it was the reason I had broken her heart so many times..I told her if my body acne was something she couldnt handle, I understand...I cant handle it either... To my surprise she responded by telling me that she loves me and nothing will change that and that my acne doesnt determine who I am...she thinks im gorgeous and always will but that isnt the reason she loves me, she loves me for who I am and no one has ever made her feel the way I do...

My point in sharing this is to give hope to those who are hiding like I was... If you love someone...take a leap of faith and trust that they love you too and will have compassion...

I had prayed for years that God would do 2 things...Bring me someone who could love me unconditionally just for who I am and to heal my acne... I never understood why my prayers had gone unanswered..

Trust that God does work in mysterious ways and he knows what he is doing... The person I had been praying for has been here for over 2 and a half years..I just couldnt see it..and by not healing my skin..I had to put so much trust in one person that they wouldnt just destroy me emotionally..and now we have a closeness that we would not have had otherwise...trust does a lot for a relationship...by allowing myself to be vulnerable my girlfriend knows exactly how much she means to me and that we can share in the things that cause us pain...neither of us have to hide anymore...

Does anyone know any products that includes Gentle cleansing plus a 10% alpha hydroxy acid like what Dan recommends.

I have mild back acne for awhile, with some large pimple here and there. Ive been using Tea tree oil and ACV for about 6 weeks, and it has seemed to help. It may not look like it at first, but give it some time. When i shower i also use head and shoulders classic clean. The smell of the vinegar can be bad at first, but you get used to it. I just use it before bed, then shower in the morning. I've also heard that gold bond works great. Just thought i'd let some people know what seems to be working for me.

DUIADFJDAFFADFLJGADFJGD no one will ever like me with tons of zits on my back.



hmm i'm just really upset and now i regret posting this. i sound over-dramatic

I have some skin lesions on my chest only. It seems like they are inflamed then scarred acne. They dont not pop but they do look like they come to a white head. They do not hurt either so not a cyst. Any ideas or info?

Hi guys

Been taking the holistic approach and my skins been clear for a good 3 weeks (haven't been able to say that since I was..12 maybe? I'm 24 now). I went to the tan can yesterday and within the hour I had a new (largish) pimple on my back and very small ones on my chest and stomach (which have come up progressively since) - and the older marks seem redder, skin just doesn't feel great overall.

I went to the tan can during winter (which has just passed here in SA) to make sure I'm getting enough vitamin D (and I cant say I mind the tan) - and at the time I started my body acne got much worse too. I didn't make the link since my skin was pretty up and down at that point and I was trying different things that may have been having a detox effect but since it happened again (after my skins been feeling great) it must be a factor. Also, this good patch that I've been having happens to be during a time that I backed off from the tanning for maybe 2 weeks.

Strange things is, the last time my skin looked fairly good was after a holiday in the bushveld where I got a good tan from a hot Limpopo sun. And last week I was walking around shirtless on a hiking trail in the sun too - so I do my fair share of sunshine and sweating with no acne side effects (it helps actually). I'm going to stop the indoor tanning and see if things get better again, just sucks that I was making amazing progress and it reversed a bit after this.

So does anyone know whats up with the indoor tanning factor? Has it made your skin any worse too?

So I finished up a cycle of accutane in June. I have not had a pimple on my face, neck, back etc., since.

But lately, I have been getting these red bumps underneath my right armpit. It's not occurring on the left side at all. And to top it off, it's like almost everyday I have a new one there! Are they ingrown hairs or something?

I attached a picture for reference.

I started getting bad chest breakouts after I stopped taking antibiotics and started to take birth control.
I have tried Gold Bond Powder, Salicylic Spot Treatment, ACV with aspirin, Salicylic Neutrogena Face Wash, Coconut Oil, AHA, Milk of Magnesia, and Head & Shoulders.
Also- I've done the whole.. not doing anything with my body acne but that doesn't seem to work.

I'm not sure if its a bad idea to try antibiotics again because that seemed to help (with bacne and chest acne, not my face) but I am aware of the bad side effects to the immune system longterm antibiotic use causes. - I used it for over a year-

My chest acne is very inflamed, large bumps, a couple of whiteheads, and blackheads.

I actually think chest acne is worse than bacne, because I can't even wear a v-neck tee or a tank top to school, because I am so embarrassed. Also, my bacne seems to be going away with a nighttime ACV toner with aspirin and occasional AHA spot treatment.

As of now I take fish oil, zinc, and Yaz birth control. I tried taking ACV but it really doesn't do anything for me unless I take it ..about 3 times a day, which I really, really detest.

If you can suggest something to me , I would greatly appreciate it
Sorry this is so long, I figured if someone is willing to help , they might as well know a little about me!

listen guys i had this folliculitis since i was 21 and i had it till i was 26 and now i am 28.. i havent had it since 2 years. The main problem cause is the sugar and starch.. keep that away from ur diet for atleast good 6 months. Candida diet works, use Head & shoulder. Use some of it on ur face as well. Try to eat atleast one cup of yogurt a day. If thats very hard to do you can add water & salt in ur yogurt and mix it well till it gets thin. YOu can enjoy the glass of laasi. make sure the yogurt has very least sugar. You should drink atleast 1 gallon of water. Doing this diet shyt lol i was at 192 lb and after 2 years i am at 165 lb i guess there is one benefit of folliculitis is it keeps u away from fat. Commitment is very important if u want this problem to go away.. good luck

I had some odd comedones on my back (like 10) that would not exfoliate or respond to any treatment. Since there were so few I decided to just get rid of them physically. So, I sort of scratched them off and ripped off top skin layer while doing so. New acne is not showing up but ah...the red marks/scabs are just nasty looking. They heal FOREVER. I mean it takes like months to get rid of them. Is there any way to make them heal faster? I tried applying Hydrocortisone but that did not help much. I do know that moisturizer make it heal longer. When my skin is drier these scabs fall faster, but if I moisturize then they stay on for even longer. What should I try? Aspirin mask? I am not sure how to make it hold on my back during the day or night...

Let me apologize up front for being longwinded...I REALLY need to vent somehow, somewhere.
I am 39, and I've lived with moderate cystic acne since I was 12. For the past 5 years, my skin has been the best ever, yet I have never seen myself without some sort of scar, scab, or blemish. I had accepted that acne is God's way of keeping me humble, and was finally looking into some laser treatments to diminish my scarring. Forget that. Two months ago, I woke up with a pimply rash all over my neck and chest. I thought I had some kind of allergic reaction to my medication or possibly a food. I went to the derm. and she said the stuff on my neck was a rash, but on my chest was acne. (I did not believe that because I know acne, and this was not acne like I've ever had.) She gave me a steroid cream and some clindamyacin gel. I tried that for 2 weeks, and saw no improvement, in fact, the rash was now spreading up behind my ears, into my scalp, and on my upper back & shoulders. I went to the allergist. He said go back to the derm and get a skin biopsy. Did that, and the derm put me on doxycycline. Took that for 10 days and saw no improvement. Went back to the derm and he said the biopsy confirmed folliculitis. I knew it wasn't acne. He changed my antibiotic and is having me use an antibaterial wash. I've been on that for another 5 days, and still no improvement. In fact, the folliculitis is spreading. Now I am covered with hundreds of tiny inflamed, whitehead pustules on my face, neck, behind the ears, shoulders, back - upper and middle, and chest - almost to my belly button. God, I am praying every day it will stop. I am awaiting the results on a culture to see if the infection is bacterial, fungal, viral, whatever. I sure hope to find out soon, cuz I am losing my f'ing mind! The pustules are the worst because I want to pop every one of them. Some seem to be oozing they are so ready to pop! Gross. I am totally grossed out at myself. I have stopped touching it, and try not to pick, but sometimes I just can't help it. I haven't had sex with my husband in 2 months because of this (that's when it started) and I am so angry I am starting not to act like myself anymore. I am very short tempered and irritable. I am not overly depressed, but I also take Wellbutrin, so maybe that is doing the job. I would give anything for clear skin. THis is a terrible curse. You would think at my age I could get over the vanity of my skin condition, but no. Seriously, I am plagued by skin problems. I still get cystic acne, I have sebaceous hyperplasia on my face (that looks like little warts that I have to get burned off), I live with genital herpes, and now folliculitis. My God, what else will I get?? What sucks the most is that I used to be very beautiful. Now, I can barely stand to look at myself. I am at the end of my rope. I am so worried the folliculitis will end up being methcillin resistant, or chronic. I absolutely cannot live with folliculits. I am now a germophobe trying to sanitize everything in my home so that my family doesn't get it. I feel absolutely disgusting. I know there are those out there who are worse than me, but that doesn't make me feel better. Well, getting this all out has helped a bit. Prayers for all of you who know what I'm talking about.

So ive had acne on my back since i started my early teen years while playing hocey. I havent played hockey for a year now but continue to workout regularly. my skin is not horrible but it does get oily and since im goin to australia in january i would like to not have to worry bout how my back looks or my face (i can manage my face with tanning on BP usually, but i wouldn't mind it being clear ... i cant tan forever lol ) I was perscribed tetracyclin (not sur eof spelling) but didn't finish the whole thing, my dermatologist was an idiot to say the least. I have a consultation for Nov 3rd and going to see if accutane is good for me.

here's a pic of my back and mostly the problem area
let me know wat u think and if its feasble to be clear in 3/4 months


why won't the url insert?

hi,

I bought extra strength gold bond. How should I apply it to my back? Do I put it on my hands and rub it on or do I just shake it onto my back?

ok so, i have suffered form severe acne on my face and body since i was 8 years old and now im almost 16 and im fineally totally clear. I have used countless non-prescription and prescription acne medication on my face and after years of trying and failing i have found my cure for my face and its is applyig clindoxyl on my face 6-7 times daily.

but for my body acne my doctor told me that it was so SEVERE that only extreamly strong acne pills would clear it, like accutane for example. but i realise that using GoldBond Triple Action Relief and Baby Powder combined toghether one a day on the affected area(s) works.After about 2-3 weeks it went away fully and its been 6 months and i am still clear! please use this advise!!

Basically I dont know how to stop/clear it? Its not exactly acne atm but Im starting to get quite a few little red spots.

My questions are:
1: What should I use to clear it b4 it starts?
2: Should I use a mosturiser on it after having a shower?
3: I also have bacne, can I use the same things that I use on me chest?

(I dont use any products on me body, just normal soap)

Thx in advance.

Hey guys,

I thought somebody would be able to help me diagnose what seems to be growing on my body.

Ever since I was 16 I started getting these white spots on my chest. I ignored the problem and it wasn't severe. Soon enough, I started getting acne on my body and it wasn't until recently until I got rid of it (I'm 20 years old now). My acne was pretty severe. I still have the marks to prove it.

I'm still on Accutane but 100% acne free. The problem is, as I progressed through my Accutane treatment, I started developing the same white spots on my shoulders and back. My chest still looks the same, but the spots seem to have spread really well on my upper back. Anyone know what these things are? They don't look that bad, but coupled with red acne marks they look terrible. They seem to be unaffected by everything I've tried so far.

Picture: http://i30.tinypic.com/10p9b3r.jpg

He people,

I've been struggling with bacne for like 6 years now, and i'm finally 100% clear and stay that way if i don't slack off. I have moderate-severe back acne wich was not easy to handle, but my regimen now is pretty simple, and keeps me clear.

First of all, i've noticed that a higher % of BP DOES work better. I used 2,5 % one time a day (actualy every night, didn't feel like having to wear white all the time) for a long time, and didn't clear up (i'm sure). Now that i use 5% once a day, i'm 100% clear.

The problem why i couldn't have done that in the past, was because i couldn't find a good moisturizer for my back, so I would clear up and have a reaally dry back, so i had to stop the 5%, and get acne again. I recently bought Dan's moisturizer and now i'm finally clear!!

Btw, i don't use a cleanser for my back. I noticed that that would only make it worse, and i shouwer once a day. You will slowly get clear, and might take 2+ months to get 100% clear, if you want faster results do it twice a day i guess.
In short, my regimen:

Evening:
BP 5%, pretty generously (but not as much as Dan doing his 2,5%)
Moisturize

Morning:
Shower (really get al BP off by genly patting your back and shoulders, or else clothing will bleach)
Moisturize (I only do that at some spots at my back, other parts can handle moisturizing once pretty good.)

I also take:
Fish oil 3g
vitamin c 1000
Zinc 25

Hope it works for you guys to, let me know if you have questions.

Grtz